George h



(No Model.)

G.H.GLARK.

FORE PART FOB. BOOT 0R SHOE TREES. No. 543,148. Patented July 23, 1895 UNITED STATES GEORGE H. CLARK, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PATENT OFFICE.

THE CLARK FORE PART FOR BOOT OR SHOE TREES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,148, dated July 23, 1895.

' Application file December 3, 1894:- Serial No, 530,690. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. CLARK, of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Fore Parts for Boot or Shoe Trees, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

Prior to this invention numerous constructions of fore parts or feet for boot and shoe trees have been made adapted to be either permanently or deta chably connected with the heel portion, said fore parts being made 1n sections whereby they may be narrowed more or less as the boot or shoe is withdrawn therefrom, such fore parts being commonly called split feet, and by their sectional construction facilitating the removal of the treed boot or shoe. These different fore parts are more or less expensive to make, and be- 1ng composed of several parts are extremely liable to become injured while treein g the boot or shoe.

2 5 This invention has for its object to improve and simplify the construction of such a fore part; and it consists in details of construction to be hereinafter set forth.

Figure 1 shows in plan view a fore part for a boot or shoe tree embodying this invention;

Fig. 2, a side view of the fore part shown in Fig. 1, the sliding side block being in its abnormal position, a position it will assume when the boot or shoe is being withdrawn;

Figs. 8, 4, and 5, details of the means employed for connecting the sliding side block with the "main body of the fore part.

The main body, comprising the usual instep portion a, shank portion b, and toe portion 0, 1s recessed from top to bottom at one side, from the shank to the toe portion, preferably on the long shank side. The rear wall d of said recess extends transversely to the main body, obliquely from the instep to the shank portion, being formed by a straight saw-cut,

and the side wall 61 of said recess extends longitudinally obliquely from the rear wall to the opposite side of the toe, as shown in Fig. 1, being also formed by a straight sawcut, the recess thereby including the whole toe portion.

A block f is made to fit the recess, it having at its forward end the whole toef. Acurved guideway e is formed in the sidewall of the recess into which a T-shaped piece ('3' is fitted 5 5 to slide freely, and the blockfis secured to said T-shaped piece 6 by asingle screw 6 or otherwise. The screw is turned in sufficiently to cause the block f to bind frictionally against the parts to which it is connected.

The curved guideway c is made as long as may be necessary determining the extent of movement of the slide-block f.

The boot or shoe having been placed on the tree and treed, or otherwise operated, is withdrawn in the usual manner, and as it is withdrawn the slide-block is drawn out in a curved line, following the general curvature of the foot. With some classes of work this movement of the slide-block in a curved line is not sufficient to enable the shoe to be removed without breaking the shape; but as the slide-block f is only connected by a single pin c it may turn as on a swivel. (See dotted lines, Fig. 2.)

It will be observed that the slide-block is made by straight saw-cuts, and that the means employed for connecting it with the main body is simple and may be easilyremoved and applied to new feet.

By so cutting the foot that the whole toe portion is formed on the sliding side block it will be seen that the body portion will be withdrawn from the boot or shoe in advance of the toe, thereby giving the toe a certain amount of space in which to work as the boot or shoe is withdrawn.

I claim- V 1. The fore-part for boot and shoe trees, consisting of a body portion, recessed at one side 0 from top to bottom, the rear wall of said re cess extending transversely to the body, and the side wall extending longitudinally obliquely from the rear wall to the toe, a block fitting said recess, and connected with the 5 body by a sliding connection, substantially as described.-

2. The fore-partfor boot and shoe trees, consisting of a body portion, recessed at one side from top to bottom, the rear wall ofsaid re- I00 cess extending transversely to the main body and obliquely from the instep to the shank,

and the side wall being vertical and extending longitudinally in a straight line obliquely from the rear wall to the toe, a block fitting said recess, which includes at its forward end the whole toe portion, and a sliding connection by means of which the block is connected with the main body, substantiallyas described.

3. The fore-part for boot and shoe trees, con sisting of a body portion, recessed at one side from top to bottom, the rear Wall of said recess extending transversely to the main body and obliquely from the instep to shank, and the side wall being vertical, and extending longitudinally in a straight line, obliquely from the rear wall to the toe, a block fitting said recess, a curved guideway formed in the side wall of the recess, a piece sliding in said recess, and means for securing the slide block to said piece, substantially as described.

4. The fore-part for boot and shoe trees, consisting of a body portion, recessed at one side from top to bottom, the rear wall of said recess extending inwardly transversely on the long shank side, and the side Wall extending on an oblique line terminating at the oppo- GEORGE H. CLARK, Witnesses:

B. J. NoYEs. FLORENCE II. DAVIS. 

